Kate Hoey raises Guy’s & St Thomas' pharmacy privatisation in Commons

Last month we reported on a demonstration held by members of the Unite union outside the Sainsbury's Local store in Borough High Street to draw attention to the privatisation plan.

The Vauxhall MP, whose constituency includes St Thomas' Hospital, asked the health secretary "what steps he plans to take in the event that the consultation on the proposal to privatise pharmacy services in the Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust is opposed by the public".

Health minister Paul Burstow (Lib Dem) replied: "This is a matter for the trust, its board of directors and governors to determine.

"However, we are advised that the trust is only proposing to outsource its out-patient dispensing and distribution of drugs to patients at home and that it has no plans to change the in-patient or pharmacy manufacturing services.

"As this represents a change of provider and not a change to services, there is no requirement for public consultation. We understand that the small number of staff potentially affected by the change will be consulted."